Lorenz Larkin is one of the latest UFC veterans who’s elected to test the free agent waters, and while the vaunted striker wants more money with his next deal, he also wants a marketing boost.

Larkin closed out his UFC contract in emphatic fashion at UFC 202, by quickly taking out welterweight contender Neil Magny. The 30 year-old recently spoke to MMA Fighting.com about his decision to become a free agent, and while doing so, Larkin made it clear he wants more a marketing push moving forward.

“But you guys never used me,” said Larkin, while referring to the UFC. “I see all these other guys you’re using, but you don’t use me for anything — to meet fans, to do appearances, or just anything. I’m willing to. I don’t just want to fight. I love to fight, but some things between fights I don’t mind doing some stuff for the company. But they never can use me.”

“At the end of the day it all boils down to marketing, and the only marketing I get — and I get the same thing that every other fighter gets — it’s the week of the fight,” added Larkin. ” The little PR that we do and stuff like that. But other than that, just nothing. Only diehard fans know who I am and look for my fights.”

The Strikeforce veteran has gone 4-1 now since he decided to drop down from middleweight in 2015.

John Howard is set to face Lorenz Larkin at UFC Fight Night 59 this weekend, and the welterweight is clearly excited to face another, well documented striker.

Howard (22-10) is coming off decision losses to Ryan LaFlare… Read More

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Howard (photo via UFC.com)

By FCF Staff

John Howard is set to face Lorenz Larkin at UFC Fight Night 59 this weekend, and the welterweight is clearly excited to face another, well documented striker.

Howard (22-10) is coming off decision losses to Ryan LaFlare and Brian Ebersole, after scoring four straight victories, which included wins over stand-up artists in Uriah Hall and Siyar Bahadurzada.

While speaking to UFC.com recently about this Sunday’s fight with Larkin, Howard had this to say about the upcoming match-up.

“I’m excited because Lorenz doesn’t back off – he stands in the pocket and bangs and that’s the type of style I like,” Howard said. “When I fought Uriah Hall, everyone was asking if I was scared to trade with him and I was like, ‘No – I love the fact that he’s a striker and a heavy hitter.’ I traded with him and I won that trade off. No disrespect to Uriah Hall, but he’s the one that went for the first takedown. My whole strategy was no takedowns; if you think you’re a striker, let’s test it.

“If he thinks he’s going to trade with me and have a good night, I’m going to be right in the middle, throwing as hard as I can and we’ll see what happens,” he adds. “I’ve never been knocked out my whole career. He’s been knocked out and he has to know that trading with me, I’ll stand and bang with anyone.”

Larkin (14-4), meanwhile, is also in need of a win, as the former middleweight is coming off consecutive losses to Brad Tavares, Costas Philippou, and Derek Brunson.

UFC FN 59 will be hosted by Boston’s TD Garden Arena, and in the main event, Dennis Siver will face fellow featherweight contender, Conor McGregor.

UFC Fight Night 59 has picked up a compelling, welterweight bout between two noted strikers, as John Howard and Lorenz Larkin have reportedly agreed to fight at the January 18th event.

Howard (22-10) will be looking to end a two fight losing skid, as the Boston fighter has been decisioned by Ryan LaFlare and Brian Ebersole in his last two outings. Prior to the defeats, “Doomsday” had won four in a row.

Larkin (14-4), meanwhile, has lost three fights. Most recently, the former middleweight lost by unanimous decision to Derek Brunson.

UFC FN 59 will be hosted by Boston’s TD Garden and will feature Conor McGregor taking on featherweight Dennis Siver in the main event.

Matt Brown made the most of his headliner status tonight at UFC Fight Night 40, as the rugged welterweight roared back to stop Erick Silva in an instant classic.

Early on in the fight it looked as though Brown’s six fight winning streak would come to an end, as Silva floored the contender with a punishing kick to the body. After defending several choke attempts, Brown managed to work his way out from under Silva, and proceeded to punish him with elbows and punches.

Brown was clearly the fresher fighter in round two, and although he continued to outscore Silva, the latter hung tough and landed a few hard shots. In round three, however, Brown was finally able to put away Silva, by finishing him off with a brutal flurry of strikes.

Here are the results from UFC FN 40, which was hosted by Cincinnati’s U.S. Bank Arena.

The UFC’s May 10th Fight Night card is nearing completion, as the promotion has announced that Lornez Larkin and Costa Philippou have verbally agreed to fight at the Cincinnati bound card.

Larkin (14-2) will be looking to rebound from the unanimous decision loss he incurred versus Brad Tavares in January, after he decisioned Chris Camozzi in November. The Strikeforce vet has gone 1-2 in the UFC thus far.

Philippou (12-4) is coming off a decision loss to Francis Carmont and a stoppage defeat versus Luke Rockhold, after winning five straight.

The January 15th, UFC Fight Night 35 in Duluth, Georgia has received another middleweight bout, as the promotion has announced that Lorenz Larkin will take on Brad Tavares.

Larkin (14-1) is coming off a unanimous decision win over Chris Camozzi at UFC FN 31 earlier this month, after losing by UD to Francis Carmont in April. In Larkin’s final Strikeforce appearance, which took place last July, he worked his way to a decision win over Robbie Lawler.

Tavares (11-1) meanwhile is on a four fight win streak, which includes victories over Tom Watson, Dongi Yang, Riki Fukuda and Bubba McDaniel. The only man to defeat Tavares in 7 UFC bouts is Aaron Simpson.

UFC FN 35 will be hosted by the Gwinnett Center, and will feature middleweight Luke Rockhold taking on Costa Philippou in the main event.

The upcoming, November 6th, “Fight for the Troops III” card has received two more middleweight bouts, just days after the UFC announced that Lyoto Machida will fight Tim Kennedy in the headliner. The card will be hosted… Read More

The upcoming, November 6th, “Fight for the Troops III” card has received two more middleweight bouts, just days after the UFC announced that Lyoto Machida will fight Tim Kennedy in the headliner. The card will be hosted by Kentucky’s Fort Campbell and will be broadcast on FOX Sports 1.

UFC vet Chris Camozzi and former Strikeforce competitor Lorenz Larkin will look to get back on the winning track against one another. Camozzi (19-6) was choked out by “Jacare” Souza at a UFC on FX card in May, which ended his four fight win streak.

Larkin (13-1) made his Octagon debut at UFC on FOX 7 in April, but came up short versus Francis Carmont, and lost by unanimous decision. Prior to that the noted striker worked his way to a UD win over Robbie Lawler, while fighting under the Strikeforce banner.

In the other confirmed bout, former Olympic Wrestling Silver Medalist Yoel Romero will battle the rising Ronny Markes.

Romero (5-1) made his UFC debut in April and knocked out Clifford Starks, but prior to that the Cuban born fighter was KO’d by “Feijao” Cavalcante with Strikeforce.

Markes (14-1) has now won three straight since arriving in the UFC, and most recently the Brazilian middleweight worked his way to a UD win over Andrew Craig in January.